CalTV.org/episodes/entertainment

Main Menu

Breakin’ down the Harlem Shake

Sup y’all. Hope you all enjoyed the six weeks of break and the 3 weeks of cruel reality, reminding you you now have homework, and deadlines, and countless youtube videos to keep up with. Since returning to our lovely campus, the internet has been blown up with a video meme sensation dubbed “The Harlem Shake”. Funny enough is it has nothing to do with the actual Harlem Shake, originating in 1981.

The original Harlem Shake began in Harlem, New York by a man named Al B (or more commonly known as Sisqo). Al B described it as “a drunken shake anyway, it’s an alcoholic shake, but it’s fantastic, everybody appreciates it”, or just another way for people to get on the floor and shake it.

But just starting in 2013 The Harlem Shake has turned into it’s own dance craze, using New York producer, Baauer’s techno-electronic song.

The internet has been blown up by hundreds of these professional, but mainly homemade, versions of the craze. All basically identical, they start with one person dancing (usually in a helmet), while everyone else continues to perform their mundane activities. But then when the bass drops the camera cuts and everyone is dressed in ridiculous costumes and dancing/jumping/seizing for the next 15 seconds. Although, each video only lasts 30 seconds there have been hundreds made and uploaded to the internet. Check out these top 25

But of course Cal couldn’t resist the temptation to get in on the sensation. Senior Lauren Kuemmeler organized one of these mini raves in Main Stacks Tuesday night. The video has gotten a good number of views for being out there for only a couple days, but of course, in Berkeley fashion, two students continue to study as the madness ensues around them.

If you don’t want to miss your opportunity to get in on this craze, head to SPROUL at 2pm TODAY! for another one of Berkeley’s editions. GO…NOW. You’ve got 2 hours to suit up in your most bizarre chicken suit to show off your most epic pelvic thrusts.